New 2012 Shows On-Sale Wednesday, 10/19 @ 10am

October 19th, 2011

Hayes Carll goes acoustic with his rock-country-folk style, Maura O’Connell continues to breakout of the Celtic-only mold, and John McCutcheon pays tribute to Woody Guthrie   

WHAT:  Additions to Swallow Hill Music’s 2012 concert line-up.
WHEN:  Dates vary; see detailed show info below.
WHERE:  Swallow Hill Music, 71 E. Yale Ave., Denver, or L2 Arts & Culture Center, 1477 Columbine St., Denver, 80206 – location specified in show info below. 
TICKETS:  Prices vary by show; see detailed show info below
INFO & BOX OFFICE: http://swallowhillmusic.org/, (303) 777-1003 x2 
PHOTOS: For high-resolution photos, please contact Meg Ivey,meg@swallowhillmusic.org
MEDIA CONTACT: Gwen Burak, (303) 643-5816, gwen@swallowhillmusic.org or Meg Ivey, 303-765-2488, meg@swallowhillmusic.org
RSS: http://swallowhillmusic.org/news

DENVER -  Great new 2012 shows are being added to Swallow Hill Music’s line up and run the gamut from an acoustic performance by Hayes Carll that offers a “layman’s take on our country” to a tribute to one of our nation’s historic social commentators,Woody Guthrie, by traditional folk singer John McCutcheon.

Also added to the concert line-up are performances by Maura O’Connell, an inspiring chanteuse, and Acoustic Eidolon putting their instrumental artistry on display once again.

Full show details are below, and thank you for supporting live music at Swallow Hill Music!

Show Details – On-Sale, Wednesday, 10/19, 10am 

 

Hayes Carll – Acoustic   
Saturday, January 28th, 8pm, $18 advance @ L2 Arts & Culture Center 

Hayes Carll hasn’t been resting on his laurels since topping critics polls and winning awards for his 2008 album, Trouble in Mind. Instead, he’s been on the road nearly nonstop, and along the way he’s been inspired to write a crop of new tunes that the acclaimed songwriter says are “a layman’s take on our country – a snapshot of America in some small way.” The result: the sharply drawn collection KMAG YOYO (and Other American Stories).  Fiery rock, twangy country, pensive folk and even a touch of gospel comprise KMAG YOYO’s sonic palette, and Hayes will be sharing that palette unplugged when he arrives in Denver.

Maura O’Connell 
Saturday, March 3rd, 8pm, $24 advance @ Daniels Hall – Swallow Hill Music

Born and raised in County Clare, Ireland, Maura O’Connell’s first public role was as lead singer with the tradition-oriented DeDannan, but her restless muse could not be safely contained under the banner of Celtic music, and she soon discovered both an interest in and affinity for progressive American roots music.  In Maura’s most recent album Naked with Friends she represents her wide-ranging musical sensibility with five traditional tunes in both English and Irish, as well as other powerful songwriting regardless of genre.

Acoustic Eidolon
Saturday, January 14th, 8pm, $18 advance @ Daniels Hall – Swallow Hill Music

Acoustic Eidolon featuring Joe Scott on double neck guitjo and Hannah Alkire on cello are from Colorado and have graced stages throughout the US, Europe, Australia and Canada with their signature “new acoustic” sound and boundless possibilities in blending Celtic, Folk, World & Latin music influences. The two joined their personal lives after forming their musical alliance and were married in 2001.  The result is a coupling of intricate and passionate music with genuine and engaging stories.

John McCutcheon
Saturday, May 5th, 8pm, $20 advance @ Daniels Hall – Swallow Hill Music

John McCutcheon is America’s balladeer. His songs sing of the nation’s heritage.  His new album, This Land: Woody Guthrie’s America, is hailed as one of the most comprehensive and stunning tributes to this American icon. Not only is there an all-star version of “This Land Is Your Land” (featuring Willie Nelson, among others), but beautiful versions of Guthrie songs, classic and unknown.

Other Shows Newly Announced & On-Sale
Fri  Apr 20         Jack Williams

 

Swallow Hill Music’s Full 2011-12 CONCERT SCHEDULE

All shows at 8pm @ 71 E. Yale Ave. unless otherwise indicated 

Thu Oct 20       Poets Row & Stephen Case Foster and The Lonesome Outfit -
Discovery Series – 7:30pm
Sat Oct 22        The Refugees w/ Liz Clark & Tessa Perry
Sat Oct 22        Paul Geremia
Fri Oct 28          Bearfoot
Fri Oct 28          John William Davis
Sat Oct 29        California Guitar Trio w/ Fareed Haque                             
Presented by jazz89 KUVO/KVJZ and Dazzle Jazz
Sat Oct 29         Meg Hutchinson w/ John Mieras
Thu Nov 3         Andrew & Noah VanNordstrand – Discovery Series – 7:30pm
Fri Nov 4           Karla Bonoff
Sat Nov 5         Austin Lounge Lizards
Sat Nov 5         Steve Law – Album Release
Thu Nov 10       The Yawpers & Special Guest - Discovery Series – 7:30pm
Fri Nov 11         The Lynn Skinner Quintet presents True Blue: Joni Mitchell (1971-1974)
Fri Nov 11         Dan Navarro
Sat Nov 12        Guy Davis
Sat Nov 12        Kindred Spirits w/ Vicki Jordan – “Top of the Hill” Faculty Concert
Sun Nov 13       Swallow Hill Music’s Board of Directors’ Concert to benefit Swallow Hill Music- 5:00pm
Sun Nov 13       The Other Side of Rabbi Joe Black & Julie Silver – 7:30pm
Thu Nov 17        Sunny Side of the Mountain Band & Magnolia Row
Discovery Series – 7:30pm
Fri Nov 18          Magic Music Reunion feat. Chris Daniels, George Cahill, Will Luckey, Lynn Poyer, Bill Makepeace, Rob Galloway, and Tim Goodman. 
Fri Nov 18          Danny Shafer w/Sarah Louise Pieplow
Sat Nov 19     An Evening with Mary Gauthier:  A Benefit for First Descents
Sat Nov 19     Perpetual Motion feat. Josie Quick, Tom Carleno, Blake Eberhard, & Ed Contreras -   “Top of the Hill” Faculty Concert
Thu Dec 1     Nostalgia Music Group – Discovery Series – 7:30pm
Sat Dec 3      Cheryl Wheeler @ L2 Arts & Culture Center

Presented by Twist & Shout
Sat Dec 10        The Klezmatics @ L2 Arts & Culture Center 
Sat Dec 17        Scoundrels for Hire feat. Tom Corona – “Top of the Hill” Faculty Concert
Fri Dec 30         David Bromberg Band w/ special guests Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore
@ L2 Arts & Culture Center
Presented by 97.3 KBCO and Twist & Shout
Sat Jan 7           Sons & Brothers
Fri Jan 13          Elizabeth Cook
Sat Jan 14         Acoustic Eidolon
Fri Jan 20          Catie Curtis  w/ Liz Barnez
Sat Jan 28         Hayes Carll @ L2 Arts & Culture Center
Fri Feb 10          Tom Rush @ L2 Arts & Culture Center
Sat Feb 18         Ruthie Foster & Paul Thorn as Soul Salvation @ L2 Arts & Culture Center
Sat Feb 25         Matt Flinner Trio & Grant Gordy Quartet
Sat Feb 25         Mary Stribling
Sat Mar 3           Maura O’Connell
Fri Mar 16          Vance Gilbert w/ Jeremy Dion
Fri Apr 20          Jack Williams
Sat May 5          John McCutcheon

 

About Swallow Hill Music:

Helping people make and enjoy music since 1979, Swallow Hill Music will celebrate its 32nd anniversary in 2011 as one of the largest non-profit institutions of its kind in the United States as a source for roots, folk and acoustic music.

In 2010, Swallow Hill Music served more than 100,000 people through its concert, school and outreach programming.

Three concert venues house more than 200 performances a year, featuring some of the world’s great artists as well as up-and-coming new talent.  Additionally in 2010 Swallow Hill Music began producing the long-running and esteemed Denver Botanic Gardens Summer Concert Series.

Swallow Hill Music offers hundreds of classes, workshops, and private lessons for instruments and interests of all kinds. A faculty of 70 instructors provides training to more than 4,000 students annually, including school outreach programming that takes music and music assemblies into Colorado public schools.

A Tier II member of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Swallow Hill Music receives public funding and grants, and has over 2,000 members that help cover one-third of all of the organization’s operating costs.  This generosity has helped Swallow Hill Music provide a place to celebrate music that is rarely heard elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain Region, in both the classroom and on stage.

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Swallow Hill Music Makes More Music in 2011

November 1st, 2010

Dakota Blonde & Cadillac Sky on sale now, Väsen performing with Mike Marshall & Darol Anger, Janis Ian, Bruce Molsky, & more on sale Wednesday, Nov. 10th, 10 a.m. MST.

WHAT: New shows on-sale now & Wednesday, November 10th for added concerts in January through April, 2011.
WHERE: Unless otherwise announced, all concerts are at 71 East Yale Ave., Denver, CO 80210 at 8 p.m.
INFO & BOX OFFICE: www.swallowhillmusic.org, (303) 777-1003 x2
PHOTOS: For high-resolution photos, please contact Gwen Burak (gwen@swallowhillmusic.org)
MEDIA CONTACT: Gwen Burak, (303) 643-5816 , gwen@swallowhillmusic.org

DENVER — Swallow Hill Music announces new concerts extending well into 2011 highlighted by long-time favorites Dakota Blonde and Janis Ian, new collaborations between Väsen performing with Mike Marshall & Darol Anger, as well as newcomers Cadillac Sky.

Dakota Blond and Cadillac Sky tickets are immediately available, and the remaining concerts will go on sale Wednesday, November 10th at 10:00a.m. MST at www.swallowhillmusic.org, in person at 71 E. Yale Ave, Denver, CO, 80210, or by phone at (303) 777-1003. Swallow Hill Music is pleased to offer NO service fees for tickets purchased to concerts. All concerts start at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Parking for concerts at 71 E. Yale Ave. is FREE as a courtesy to our patrons.

Thank you for supporting live music in Denver!



HIGHLIGHTS – NOW ON SALE

Dakota Blonde Valentine’s Day Celebration
Sat, Feb 12
Dakota Blonde offers original songs and covers that are a unique combination of folk, bluegrass, and country with a little Celtic tinge. Comprised of three friends who met by way of their mutual occupation as music therapists, the group possesses a special capacity for empathy that could explain the titanium bond they form with their audience.

Cadillac Sky
Sat, Apr 19
Coming off their sold out 2010 support dates with Mumford & Sons, 2011 marks the metamorphosis of Cadillac Sky from a critically acclaimed bluegrass band to a band without boundaries. Their chosen instrumentation which imitates that of Bill Monroe’s classic bands belies the depth of sound that these five young men create and becomes simply the canvass that they paint from.


HIGHLIGHTS – ON SALE NOV. 10TH

Väsen performing with Mike Marshall & Darol Anger

Sat, Mar 12 – L2 Arts & Culture Center
Two architects of new acoustic music in America, Darol Anger and Mike Marshall, join forces with Sweden’s most influential instrumental ensemble, Väsen. Together, these five musicians create a new landscape of traditional sounds that forges the gap between the fiddle and dance tunes of Appalachia and the nyckelharpa and polskas of Sweden. You will discover just how small our Atlantic Ocean really is!

An Evening with Janis Ian
Fri, Mar 18
At the early age of 14, Janis Ian wrote a song that would charted her life’s course. The Associated Press described  “Society’s Child” as “a white teenager indicting America for its racism and hypocrisy.” At a time when the Supreme Court had yet to repeal laws against interracial marriage, the tune was banned by radio stations across the country labeled as “subversive.” Despite adversity, the song reached #1 status on the charts, and suddenly the teenager found herself in the company of legends like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

John Jorgenson Quintet
Sat, Mar 5
The John Jorgenson Quintet features guitarist John Jorgenson, a founding member of the Desert Rose Band, the Hellecasters, and six-year member of Elton John’s band. John has contributed to recordings from Barbra Streisand, Bonnie Raitt, Earl Scruggs and more. Audiences are typically amazed by John’s dazzling guitar work and mastery as a clarinet player and vocalist.

Bruce Molsky
Sat, Mar 19
Alone or with fellow musicians; guitar, fiddle, or banjo in hand, Bruce Molsky has been exploring traditional music from an astonishingly broad range of cultures over the past two decades. While most identified with traditional American old-time music, Molsky’s influences range from Appalachian soul to Delta blues and from Irish music to the rhythmic sounds of Eastern Europe.

OTHER NEWLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS ON SALE

Sat Dec 18 Naughty Pierre’s Clockette’s Holiday Show w/ Ukulele Loki’s Gadabout Orchestra
Sat Jan 22 Big Jim Adam & John Stilwagen (on sale 11/10)
Fri Mar 11 Small Potatoes (on sale 11/10)

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Food, fun, and local bands headline the 2nd annual Buy Local Week event on Friday, December 3rd

October 18th, 2010

WHAT: 2nd Annual Buy Local Week Event featuring music by local bands Paper Bird and Bela Karoli, Friday, December 3rd, 7:00pm
WHERE: Swallow Hill Music at 71 East Yale Ave., Denver, CO 80210.
INFO & BOX OFFICE: www.swallowhillmusic.org, (303) 777-1003 x2

DENVER — The Mile High Business Alliance and Swallow Hill Music announce the second annual Buy Local Week Event on Friday, December 3, taking place at Swallow Hill Music. The event is a holiday celebration and fundraiser for the Mile High Business Alliance.

Swallow Hill Music and the Mile High Business Alliance have partnered to present an evening of live music, food, drink and fun for the benefit of Denver’s local economy. Local business owners, community leaders and lovers of all things local will gather to celebrate Buy Local Week (November 26 – December 4) and the holiday season. The event will begin with an invitation-only reception for local notables, and will then provide catered food and drink to ticketed attendees, including a silent auction with amazing deals on local products. The evening will conclude with live performances by Paper Bird and Bela Karoli.

Local band Paper Bird has a unique folk-Americana sound that is as much an homage to 1950′s American Bandstand as it is a testament to the growth of youthful, folk-inspired music in today’s indie-rock scene. Paper Bird is charged by their signature vocal harmonies and knack for capturing a Roaring 20′s flare in a contemporary way that is pleasing to the ears.

Also taking the stage is Denver band Bela Karoli, acclaimed in the local music scene with music that has been described by Ricardo Baca from the Denver Post as “haunting, jazz-inflected electro acoustic tunes that ooze with grace.”

“Swallow Hill Music is thrilled to again be a part of supporting Buy Local Week,” says Gwen Burak, Swallow Hill Music’s Director of Marketing, “Through our concert presentations and school education efforts we are committed to supporting local musicians and creating a vibrant community that local businesses are so much a part of establishing.”

“The holiday season is a great time to think about directing spending towards locally owned businesses,” says Mickki Langston, Executive Director of the Mile High Business Alliance. “This event celebrates the connection between locally owned businesses and the community.”

Dozens of local businesses and organizations are participating in the 4th Annual Buy Local Week campaign with special promotions and neighborhood-oriented events throughout the holiday season. For a detailed schedule of this event, or to read more about “Buy Local Week” please visit www.ColoradoLocalFirst.com/blw

The Mile High Business Alliance is a membership organization committed to building better community through better business.  For more information, visit www.milehighbiz.org

Swallow Hill Music is a unique arts and cultural institution that promotes the joy of learning and listening to the many genres of roots music.  For more information on classes and concerts, please go to www.swallowhillmusic.org.

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Swallow Hill Music adds new faces & old favorites to warm up the winter concert schedule

October 18th, 2010

Tickets on sale now for: Kathy Mattea, the Wailin’ Jennys, Reed Foehl Trio & SHEL, Travelin’ McCourys, Tom Rush & more!

WHAT: Tickets on-sale Thursday October 14 for added concerts in December, and January and February, 2011.
WHERE: Unless otherwise announced, all concerts are at 71 East Yale Ave., Denver, CO 80210 at 8 p.m.
INFO & BOX OFFICE: www.swallowhillmusic.org, (303) 777-1003 x2
MEDIA CONTACT: Gwen Burak, (303) 643-5816 , gwen@swallowhillmusic.org

DENVER — Swallow Hill Music announces a big on-sale with concerts extending through February that include artists that have been pleasing their fans for years such as Kathy Mattea and Tom Rush, and those that are just getting started, including The Wailin’ Jennys and Reed Foehl Trio & SHEL.

The following concerts will go on sale Thursday, October 14th at 10:00a.m. MST at www.swallowhillmusic.org, in person at 71 E. Yale Ave, Denver, CO, 80210, or by phone at (303) 777-1003. Swallow Hill Music is pleased to offer NO service fees for tickets purchased to concerts. All concerts start at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Parking for concerts at 71 E. Yale Ave. is FREE as a courtesy to our patrons.

Thank you for supporting live music in Denver!

HIGHLIGHTS

Reed Foehl Trio & SHEL
Fri, Dec 17
Boulder singer-songwriter Reed Foehl pulls together a touch of country folk and edgy roots rock with the bold honesty intrinsic to modern songwriting.  “He sings like he feels every note… Each song tells a story, all of which he relates astonishingly well.” – The Boston Globe.  The youthful women of SHEL bring their bright vocals, tight harmonies, and whimsy from Fort Collins to the delight of all.

Maura O’Connell
Sat, Jan 22
Maura O’Connell, captivating stylist …introspective chanteuse … musical explorer… songwriter’s singer. Whatever label one attaches to Maura O’Connell, there are precious few singers with the natural ability to delve so deeply into a vast array of musical material, inhabiting each note and every space between each note with such conviction that both performer and listener are left unquestionably moved and unexpectedly exposed.

Wailin’ Jennys
Fri, Feb 11 – L2 Arts & Culture Center
Three extraordinary voices, two founding singer-songwriters, one singular vision: The Wailin’ Jennys continue to evolve into far more than the melodious sum of their individual talents almost eight years after blowing in on a fresh acoustic breeze from Canada’s mid-western heartland.  “a timeless quality…the songs could have been written last week, or at any point in the last two centuries.” – PopMatters

Kathy Mattea
Sat, Feb 19 – L2 Arts & Culture Center
Kathy Mattea, the beloved, Grammy-winning singer of such classics as “18 Wheels and A Dozen Roses,” “Where’ve You Been,” and many other hits says that her new album offered her a “re-education” in singing. That album, COAL, is a re-education for the listener as well, a record that reshapes the way we think about music, reminding us of why we love it so much in the first place.

Travelin’ McCourys
Sun, Feb 20 – L2 Arts & Culture Center
No other band today has the same credentials for playing traditional and progressive music as the Travelin’ McCourys. As the sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury on banjo continue their father’s work—a lifelong dedication to the power of bluegrass music to bring joy into people’s lives.

Tom Rush
Fri, Feb 25 – L2 Arts & Culture Center
Tom Rush’s impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the ’60s and the renaissance of the ’80s and ’90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. In a Rolling Stone interview, folk legend James Taylor quoted, “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.” Additionally, Rush has long championed emerging artists, introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor. More recently, concerts with Rush have introduced Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences.

NEW CONCERTS ON SALE 10/14

Thu Dec 2 The Leslie Brown Quartet – 7:30pm
Thu Dec 9 Annie Brooks- 7:30pm
Sun Dec 12 Peace Concert w/ Julie Davis – 7:00pm
Thu Dec 16 Ugly Sweater Party/Christmas Sing-a-long – 7:30pm
Fri Dec 17 Reed Foehl Trio & SHEL
Fri Dec 17 Christy Wessler’s Christmas Sing-a-long – 7:00pm
Sat Dec 18 Christy Wessler’s “Top of the Hill” Sing A Long – 7:00pm
Thu Jan 6 Blackberry Bushes String Band – 7:30pm
Fri Jan 7 Runaway Express
Sat Jan 8 Sons & Brothers
Fri Jan 14 Mack Bailey and Rachel Levy
Sat Jan 15 Wendy Woo and Nina Storey
Sat Jan 15 Bonnie and the Clydes
Fri Jan 21 Matt Flinner Trio & Grant Gordy Quartet
Sat Jan 22 Maura O’Connell
Fri Jan 28 Catie Curtis
Fri Feb 11 Wailin’ Jennys – L2 Arts & Culture Center
Sat Feb 12 Beat the Reaper
Sat Feb 19 Kathy Mattea – L2 Arts & Culture Center
Sat Feb 19 Hillbilly Inferno
Sun Feb 20 Travelin’ McCourys – L2 Arts & Culture Center – 7:00pm
Fri Feb 25 Tom Rush – L2 Arts & Culture Center
Sat Feb 26 Pierre Bensusan – Album Release Tour


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World’s Largest Ukulele Lesson Update

October 5th, 2010

Hello Uke Folks!

Thank you so much for being apart of Swallow Hill Music’s giant ukulele lesson on Saturday, September 25th at the Ruby Hill Park celebration. We had a blast putting the event on and look forward to doing it again next year in 2011. We didn’t get the world record but it was amazing to see hundreds of ukulele players there.

Here are the official numbers

  • 412 ukulele Players
  • 274 ukuleles loaned out
  • 138 of you brought your own ukuleles
  • 3rd Largest Lesson in the World (as far as we can tell).
  • 2nd largest in the Country
  • Colorado and the Rocky Mountains’ largest ukulele lesson
  • 1st Largest in 2011???????

Check out the video!

Thank you again to the SCFD who helped provide the funding for the ukuleles and thank you to O’hana and Kala ukuleles for supplying the ukes.

We have ukulele classes for kids, teens, and adults starting in the first week of November. Classes are taught by Chris McGarry who co-taught the giant ukulele lesson. Classes are now open for registration with discounts.

And save the date for Swallow Hill Music’s Denver Ukefest on February 4th and 5th.

Adult and Teen Ukulele Classes

  • Ukulele 1
  • Ukulele 2
  • Ukulele 3
  • Ukulele 4

Kid’s Ukulele Classes

  • Kids’ Ukulele (5-7yrs)
  • Kids’ Ukulele (8-12)

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Swallow Hill Music helps celebrate Denver Urban Gardens 25th anniversary with free concert at Ruby Hill Park

September 22nd, 2010

Featuring Justin Roberts, Lucy Kaplansky, Patty Larkin & more; Saturday, September 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHAT: Free concert w/ Lucy Kaplansky, Patty Larkin, Justin Roberts and Mono Verde at Flourish!, celebrating Denver Urban Gardens 25th anniversary and 100th community garden groundbreaking.
WHERE: Ruby Hill Park | 1505 West Jewell Ave., Denver, 80223
INFO & BOX OFFICE: www.swallowhillmusic.org, (303) 777-1003 x2
MEDIA CONTACT: Please contact Chip Herter: 303.765.2488; chip@swallowhillmusic.org

DENVER — West Denver’s Ruby Hill park will be a bustle of free food and music on Saturday, September 25th, as Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) and Denver Parks & Recreation present Flourish!, a community-wide event to celebrate DUG’s 25th anniversary and 100th community garden at Ruby Hill Park. Swallow Hill Music will host a concert featuring an all-star lineup of musical acts, including national singer/songwriters Patty Larkin and Lucy Kaplansky, national children’s musician Justin Roberts and local Latin reggae band, Mono Verde. Members of the community are encouraged to pack picnics and bring the kids for this free event which begins at 11 a.m. with the historic groundbreaking of DUG’s 100th community garden.

Following the groundbreaking, there will be a local chef competition with live cooking from local restaurants including Root Down, Bistro One, Black Pearl, WaterCourse and more. At 1 p.m. Swallow Hill Music will host the World’s Largest Ukulele Lesson, led by Denver ukulele virtuoso Ukulele Loki. There will be a number of ukuleles on loan from Swallow Hill Music as they invite people of all ages and experience levels to come and participate as they attempt to break the world record for largest ukulele lesson (the previous record being 851 ukulele players, set at the London Ukulele Festival in 2009). Anyone can participate in the lesson, regardless of their experience on the ukulele. If you have your own ukulele you are encouraged to bring it and show it off!

The free concert will begin immediately following the ukulele lesson and the event is scheduled to go until 6 p.m.

As always, thank you for supporting live music in Denver!

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Swallow Hill Music invites public to help break world record for largest ukulele lesson

September 22nd, 2010

WHAT: World’s largest ukulele lesson, presented by Swallow Hill Music
WHERE: Ruby Hill Park | 1505 W. Jewell Ave, Denver, 80223
INFO & BOX OFFICE: www.swallowhillmusic.org, (303) 777-1003 x2
PHOTO: http://swallowhillmusic.org/?attachment_id=2113
MEDIA CONTACT: Chip Herter | 303.765.2488 | chip@swallowhillmusic.org

DENVER — The hills are alive with the sound of…ukulele? Denver’s Swallow Hill Music sure hopes so as they attempt to break the record for the world’s largest ukulele lesson this Saturday, September 25, 1 p.m. at Ruby Hill Park in west Denver. 852 ukuleles (ukes) is the magic number Swallow Hill Music needs to take the title, the previous record being set at the London Ukulele Festival on June 20, 2009. Swallow Hill Music is encouraging people of all ages and experience levels to come participate. No previous ukulele experience required! Thanks in part to private donors and contributions from the Scientific Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Swallow Hill Music will provide 400 ukuleles to help reach this goal, but encourages anyone who already owns a uke to bring it with them. Denver’s own ukulele virtuoso Ukulele Loki will lead the lesson.
In recent years the ukulele has become a mainstay in pop music culture, with musicians like Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and Paul McCartney bringing it to the forefront of their songs. Not only is the ukulele simple in design, it is also simple in theory and easy to play, making it an ideal instrument to learn at any age. By captivating a world-record breaking audience on Saturday with the quaintness of this instrument, Swallow Hill Music hopes to garner excitement in people of all ages and show them that it is never too late to pick up an instrument and play.

This event is part of the Denver Urban Gardens 25th anniversary celebration, where on Saturday they will break ground on their 100th garden. Following the ukulele lesson, Swallow Hill Music presents Lucy Kaplansky, Patty Larkin, Justin Roberts and Mono Verde in a concert that is free and open to the public.

For more information on the world’s largest ukulele lesson, please visit http://swallowhillmusic.org or contact Chip Herter: 303.765.2488, chip@swallowhillmusic.org; for more information on the Denver Urban Gardens 25th Anniversary event please visit http://dug.org.

As always, thank you for supporting live music in Denver!

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Fall concerts at Swallow Hill Music highlight emerging artists as the New Faces of Folk

September 13th, 2010

WHAT: Swallow Hill Music’s fall concert schedule highlights emerging artists as the new faces of folk
WHERE: Unless otherwise announced, all concerts are at 71 East Yale Ave., Denver, CO 80210.
INFO & BOX OFFICE: www.swallowhillmusic.org, (303) 777-1003 x2
MEDIA CONTACT: Chip Herter, (303) 765-2488, chip@swallowhillmusic.org

DENVER — For over 31 years Swallow Hill Music has played a vital role in preserving and presenting folk music in the Denver community, and with the advent of youthful, folk-inspired music making its way into today’s popular sound, Swallow Hill Music is poised to play a new role in introducing these artists to the music community at large. Today more than ever, there is a connection growing between old and new-folk music by way of the fresh faces that are taking the stage with a fundamentally classic folk sound. With performances from emerging artists like Newport Folk Festival regular Tim Eriksen, old-soul singer-songwriter William Elliott Whitmore, the harmonious female duo Dala (fresh off their appearance at the Lyons Folk Festival) and many more, Swallow Hill Music looks forward to a fall concert season including the trailblazing new talent that is giving a fresh look to a traditional sound.

Tickets are now on sale for the following concerts at www.swallowhillmusic.org, in person at 71 E. Yale Ave, Denver, CO, 80210, or by phone at (303) 777-1003. Swallow Hill Music is pleased to offer NO service fees for tickets purchased to concerts. All concerts start at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Parking for concerts at 71 E. Yale Ave. is FREE as a courtesy to our patrons.

Thank you for supporting live music in Denver!

FALL CONCERTS FEATURING THE NEW FACES OF FOLK

Dala
Fri, Oct 22
Having recently performed at this summer’s Lyons Folk Festival, Dala returns to Colorado once again to perform music that is both catchy and insightful. Drawing upon influences like The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, Dala combines Amanda Walther’s ethereal soprano voice with Sheila Carabine’s velvety alto, creating the lush harmonies that have become their trademark.

Elephant Revival – Halloween Concert!
Fri, Oct 29
Join the self-proclaimed ‘Transcendental Folk’ quintet Elephant Revival at Swallow Hill Music for this special costume-welcome Halloween concert event! Young in age and conception, Elephant Revival carries a fresh sense of creativity and inspiration that is felt by people of every generation.

Kailin Yong Peace Project Trio
Sat, Oct 30
Hailed for his seamless melding of cross-cultural music styles, Boulder Acoustic Society founding member and “fiddler for peace” Kailin Yong founded The Kailin Yong Peace Project in 2009 with the sole purpose of conducting “peace concerts” across the Front Range. The result is a concert of such musical and spiritual magnitude that it is best left up to experience rather than description.

Tim Eriksen and Betse Ellis w/ KC Groves
Fri, Nov 19
Quickly becoming a mainstay at the Newport Folk Festival, Tim Eriksen is “widely regarded as the best ballad singer of his generation” (BBC Radio). His inspirational vocals combine with savvy arrangements for fiddle, banjo, guitar and bajo sexto, transforming American tradition with a “northern roots” Americana sound.

Spring Creek
Fri, Nov 19
Spring Creek, the award-winning Colorado bluegrass band, are bursting into the national scene. These musical road warriors have held tight to the bluegrass tradition, emulating the first generation greats while presenting a youthful, fresh sound. They eat, sleep and drink their craft within a musical community steeped in bluegrass.

William Elliott Whitmore w/ Quiet American
Co-presented with Twist & Shout Records
Sat, Nov 20
With live performances of a caliber to leave one completely stunned in silence, William Elliott Whitmore is one of the most interesting contributions to today’s diverse collection of musical ingenuity. “Whitmore’s constant blending of old and new makes his music so unique, just as his heavily tattooed arms reveal a musical history grown as much from hardcore punk as from folk and blues.” (Jim Beckman, KEXP FM).

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Concerts On Sale 7/14/10 include actor/comedian Jeff Daniels, Colin Hay (Men at Work) and Halloween with Elephant Revival

July 1st, 2010

WHAT: Tickets on-sale Wednesday, July 14 for added concerts through December at Swallow Hill Music.
WHERE: Unless otherwise announced, all concerts are at 71 East Yale Ave., Denver, CO 80210.
INFO & BOX OFFICE: www.swallowhillmusic.org, (303) 777-1003 x2
MEDIA CONTACT: Gwen Burak (gwen@swallowhillmusic.org) | Chip Herter (chip@swallowhillmusic.org)

DENVER — Swallow Hill Music announces a massive 35 concert on-sale with events extending through December and including a special evening with actor/comedian turned singer/songwriter Jeff Daniels, the timeless music of Colin Hay (from Men at Work) and a “transcendental” Halloween concert with Colorado’s own Elephant Revival. The following concerts will go on sale Wednesday, July 14 at 10:00 a.m. MST at SwallowHillMusic.org (now with no service charges), by phone at (303) 777-1003 ext. 2, or – to speak with a human being – visit our friendly box office at 71 E. Yale Ave, Denver, 80210. All concerts start at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Parking for concerts at 71 E. Yale Ave. is FREE as a courtesy to our patrons.

As always, thank you for supporting live music in Denver!HIGHLIGHTS

Carrie Rodriguez
Fri, Sep 03
The daughter of seasoned songwriter David Rodriguez, Carrie Rodriguez launched her career in 2001 at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin and has since intersected with a number of bold faced names to push the envelope with her affectionately “post-Americana” musical style. Among those names is producer Lee Townsend (Bill Frisell, Loudon Wainwright III) who worked with Carrie on her latest record, Love and Circumstance, a covers album with songs from Buddy Miller, Townes Van Zandt, M. Ward, Hank Williams, Lucinda Williams and even some of her father’s classics. “‘Fiddle’ and ‘deadly’ don’t usually appear in the same sentence together – unless you’re talking about Carrie Rodriguez…she brought the crowd to their knees with her songs of love and regret, and a bit of vengeance.” —The Denver Post

Charlie Hunter
Feat. Eric Kalb and Michael Williams
Fri, Sept 10
With dynamite talent matched by a restless creative spirit, calling jazz/fusion guitarist Charlie Hunter anything but a seasoned musician would be a gross understatement. Since the debut of his self-titled Charlie Hunter Trio (featuring Dave Ellis on sax and Jay Lane on drums) he has recorded 17 albums, played in Michael Franti’s The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Bobby Previte’s The Coalition of the Willing, and has performed on tracks with Christian McBride and Les Claypool. For his latest recording effort, Gentlemen, I Neglected To Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid, Charlie has teamed up with drummer Eric Kalb (Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, John Scofield) and Michael Williams (lead trumpet, Count Bassie Orchestra). While in town, Charlie will also host a special instrumental workshop at the Swallow Hill School of Music on Friday, September 10 at 3 p.m.

Colin Hay
Wed, Oct 13 – L2 Arts & Culture Center
“Although I’m not technically an American citizen, I’ve been living here for 20 years,” reflects Colin Hay from his home in California. “I like it here.” Colin’s new album, American Sunshine, is marked by several sideways glances at the American dream – that perilous balance between potential and reality – along with knowing ruminations on the transformative effects of love and the passing of time, set to some of the purest pop, hardest rock, and most emotionally bare acoustic balladry Colin has yet laid down. While his voice is still familiar to millions  as frontman and lead vocalist of pop sensations Men at Work,  the past 10 years have found him quietly re-introducing himself to new generations of fans. The frequent use of his music on soundtracks (Scrubs, Garden State) has proven the timeless appeal of his songs. Hay’s solo shows intersperse classic and new songs with hilarious, poignant, and downright surreal stories drawn from his often unbelievable experiences over the past three decades.

Jonathan Edwards
Fri, Oct 15
On the verge of his fifth decade in the music business, Jonathan Edwards is an artist who measures his success by his ability to attract and take good care of an audience. He maintains that it is the feedback he receives after his shows that keeps him going. “It is really gratifying to hear [someone say], ‘Your stuff has meant a lot to me over the years.’” For some, “over the years” may stem as far back as 1971 when Jonathan first released the widely successful song “Sunshine”, a fierce proclamation of protest and independence written against the backdrop of the Vietnam war. The song resonated with thousands of young men and women of the day, and for Jonathan it resulted in an almost “overnight” success which in turn has become an illustrious career.

Elephant Revival (Halloween show!)
 Fri, Oct 29
Join the self-proclaimed ‘Transcendental Folk’ quintet Elephant Revival at Swallow Hill Music for this special costume-welcome Halloween concert event! Young in age and conception, Elephant Revival carries a fresh sense of creativity and inspiration that is felt by people of every generation. Individually and collectively, the band members have performed with some of the most prolific performers of our time, including Bela Fleck, John Paul Jones, Michael Franti, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Leftover Salmon and more.

An Evening with Jeff Daniels
 Sat, Nov 06
The versatility of actor/comedian Jeff Daniels is apparent in films like Terms of Endearment, the hilarious Dumb and Dumber and the cult hit The Lookout; but have you ever seen Jeff Daniels the singer/songwriter? After 30-years in film, he is making a foray into music. “I’ve been writing songs for over thirty years,” Says Jeff, “they’re my diaries. I had everything I’ve ever written in this big, black notebook…someone had suggested [for a benefit concert] if I were pushed out onstage with a guitar, people might actually pay money to see what happened.” So while finishing a film, Jeff was transcribing three decades of music into his computer when (Sound Engineer) Steve Curran inquired as to what he was doing. “Organizing my songs,” Jeff said. Steve suggested Jeff record his concert, Jeff quickly replied “turn around and finish tweaking the fart scene…I make my living as an actor, not an actor who sings…If I put out a CD there’s a…chance I’d be compared to William Shatner,” to which Steve said, “Sounds like a song to me,” then turned around and went about adding “more bass to that flatulence.”

ALL CONCERTS ON SALE 7/14

Fri Sep 3 Carrie Rodriguez
Thu Sep 9 Jeni & Billy
Fri Sep 10 Charlie Hunter feat. Eric Kalb and Michael Williams
Thu Sep 16 Steve Law – 7:30 p.m.
Sat Sep 18 Pete Mulvey w/Danielle Ate the Sandwich
Sat Sep 18 Gia Ashe & White Collar Criminals
Thu Sep 30 Ali Greyson – 7:30 p.m.
Fri Oct 1 Christine Lavin w/Rebecca Folsom
Sat Oct 2 Dan Navarro & Darden Smith
Thu Oct 7 Dave Devitt – 7:30 p.m.
Fri Oct 8 Hot Club of Cowtown
Sat Oct 9 Kate LeRoux Band & Southern Exposure
Wed Oct 13 Colin Hay – L2 Arts & Culture Center
Fri Oct 15 Jonathan Edwards
Sat Oct 16 Tannahill Weavers
Sat Oct 16 Chris McGarry & the Insomniacs
Fri Oct 22 Dala
Fri Oct 22 Jack Williams
Sat Oct 23 Suzy Bogguss
Sat Oct 23 Josie Quick (Rocky Mountain Violin Summit)
Fri Oct 29 Elephant Revival (Halloween show)
Sat Oct 30 California Guitar Trio
Fri Nov 5 John McCutcheon
Fri Nov 5 Old-Fashioned Hootenanny
Sat Nov 6 An Evening with Jeff Daniels
Sat Nov 6 Kelly Joe Phelps & Corrine West
Fri Nov 12 Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
Fri Nov 12 Po Girl
Sat Nov 13 Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Album Release & Concert
Sat Nov 13 Swing Set
Fri Nov 19 Tim Ericksen & Betse Ellis w/KC Groves
Sat Nov 20 Kindred Spirts
Sat Nov 27 Tony Trischka
Sat Dec 4 Cheryl Wheeler – L2 Arts & Culture Center
Fri Dec 10 Dave McGraw

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Swallow Hill Music announces Denver’s first Woody Guthrie Festival

June 28th, 2010

Featuring live performances from Jay Farrar (of Son Volt), Sarah Lee Guthrie, Tao Seeger & more, plus art, films, workshops and artifacts, all at Denver’s first official Woody Guthrie Festival.

WHAT: Woody Guthrie Festival: Weaving the Threads
WHEN: Fri & Sat, July 30 & 31. See website for schedule of events.
WHERE: (Fri, July 30) Swallow Hill Music: 71 E. Yale Ave, Denver, 80210; (Sat, July 31) L2 Arts & Culture Center: 1477 Columbine (@ Colfax Ave.), Denver, CO 80206
TICKETS: $25-$135.  Visit the festival website for ticket descriptions and details.
BOX OFFICE: www.swallowhillmusic.org | 303.777.1003 x2 | 71 East Yale Avenue, Denver, 80210

DENVER — Swallow Hill Music in conjunction with Tattered Cover Book Store, Twist & Shout Records, KUNC 91.5FM, KBDI – Channel 12, The Metropolitan State College of Denver, and the Denver Biennial of the Americas is proud to present the Woody Guthrie Festival: Weaving the Threads, a two-day event featuring art, film, poetry, workshops, presentations and live performances.

Great music will be the highlight of the Festival’s Friday and Saturday evening program, featuring a Friday night line up of Woody Guthrie’s great-granddaughter Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Pete Seeger’s grandson Tao Seeger, and Master of Ceremonies Aaron Keim of the Boulder Acoustic Society. Saturday evening will feature Jay Farrar (of Son Volt), The Atomic Duo (featuring Mark Rubin of Bad Livers), Seth Bernard and Daisy May Erlewine, and Café Nuba featuring Ashara Ekundayo, Jennifer Johns & Erwin Thomas.

While many people associate Woody Guthrie with his timeless music, he also led a life filled with the creation of art, writings and letters, political activism, and technology exploration. The Woody Guthrie Festival:  Weaving the Threads will explore these many threads of his life and his contributions to American and world culture that surprisingly are still salient today, over 40 years after his death.

Festival-goers will enjoy workshops, exhibits, and panel discussions focusing on the life, music, and legacy of Woody Guthrie. Speakers include Jorge Arévalo, the Head Archivist and Curator of the Woody Guthrie Archives, Anna Canoni, Woody Guthrie’s granddaughter, and a director of the Woody Guthrie Foundation, as well as Denver- based, Barry Ollman, a Woody Guthrie collector and member of the Advisory Board of The Woody Guthrie Foundation.

Additionally, there will be instrumental workshops hosted by some of the performing artists, music classes for both adults & kids, and art and film; film screenings of several documentaries on Woody Guthrie will be shown over the course of the two day festival, there will be an art and artifact exhibit composed of over 30 pieces from the Woody Guthrie Archives, and an interactive art installation created by students at Metro State allowing participants to interact some of Woody Guthrie’s most famous lyrics, and make their own recordings.

All Woody Guthrie Festival attendees will receive coupons for purchases at Tattered Cover Bookstore and Twist & Shout Records which will have merchandise featuring Woody Guthrie and the performing artists. In addition, Tattered Cover Gives Back members are invited to visit any Tattered Cover location during the Woody Guthrie Festival weekend (Friday, July 30 through Sunday, August 1) and, in addition to the usual 1% donation to the nonprofit of your choice, and extra 1% will be donated to Swallow Hill Music.

Ticket prices range and include concert-only, single day or weekend passes. Special pricing for kids tickets too. Please visit http://events.swallowhill.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1153 for more details on the festival’s schedule, artists, activities, and ticket prices.

Thank you for supporting live music in Denver!

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